Now my morning

[DaOld Man]

Yesterday morning was not as bad as Saint's morning with his son, but it was just as frustrating for me.
I worked Monday and was scheduled to work Tuesday, then be off weds, thus, and fri.
I was planning to get some serious work done on my jukebox project in those three days off.

Well, yesterday (Tuesday), I got up and did my regular morning routine.
It was about 26 degrees F. so I started the old truck to melt some ice off the windshield and let it run for a few minutes.
When I got ready to leave, i thought it was funny that none of the ice had melted so I dug out the scraper.
After a few minutes of scraping ice, I was on my way.
I got about a half mile from the house and I noticed the heater was putting out cold air.
I looked at the temp gauge and it was very close to the red H.
Luckily I was close to the house so I turned around and went back home.
I found the water pump is leaking. So I called into work and told them I needed to burn a vacation day. (One that I was hording up for Christmas.)

This truck is a 1994 Dodge dakota with 206000 miles on it.
So I really hate to put a 200 dollar water pump on it.
Ive been procrastinating about buying a new truck for 2 years now, so it's really my own fault.
I spent about all day yesterday looking at new trucks on line.
I live in a rural area, so to get a decent deal i have to go at least 30 miles.
My wife is off tomorrow, so I guess we both will be tied up all day looking for me a new truck, because I cant trust the water pump to even get me that far.

[ChadTower]

So I take it your plan is not to trade in the Dakota on the new truck?  Look at it this way... at least you get a new truck!

I feel you on the lack of heat in the vehicle.  My car hasn't had any heat in like 100,000 miles.  The defroster sorta works but on the really cold mornings it only makes a difference to the windshield.

[SirPeale]

Is that $200 for just the part, or does that include labor?

If not, you could do it yourself and save the $$$

[CCM]

Unless you are paying cash for the new truck, why not put $200 into the old one?  Does the truck have any other problems?  $200 once is better than a payment every month for the next 5 years!

[SavannahLion]

200+k on a '94 Dodge isn't too bad. They don't seem to have the same bad rep as Ford or Chevy. Are you going to stay with Dodge or get another make? Hands down, I would shoot for Toyota (what I have now) but the pricing in this crap economy might put them out of most peoples league.

I feel you on the lack of heat in the vehicle.  My car hasn't had any heat in like 100,000 miles.  The defroster sorta works but on the really cold mornings it only makes a difference to the windshield.

Ten years ago I probably would've happily traded vehicles. Ever seen those Carmax commercials and the guy is messing around with the heat and A/C? My S10 was like that. It would be some degrees below zero, white out blizzard conditions and eight feet of snow on the ground and I would be driving around in a T-shirt, shorts, and flipflops with both windows rolled down.

[HaRuMaN]

Ten years ago I probably would've happily traded vehicles. Ever seen those Carmax commercials and the guy is messing around with the heat and A/C? My S10 was like that. It would be some degrees below zero, white out blizzard conditions and eight feet of snow on the ground and I would be driving around in a T-shirt, shorts, and flipflops with both windows rolled down.

Lol... my old Nova was like that.  Even with the heat turned off it was enough to cook you.  In the summer, I had a manual valve under the hood that I would close to keep the coolant from circulating in the heater core.

[ChadTower]

My aunt had a car like that when I was a kid... coolant was messed up so she had to keep the heat on full blast all the time.  It was an oven in that car.

My car will likely stay like this for quite a while.  In this economy I'll keep my Civic with 119k.   

[DaOld Man]

I decided to go ahead and have the water pump replaced.
This truck is starting to use oil, and the lifters sound like a worn out sewing machine sometimes.
Plus there are a few pretty bad rust spots on it.
I think it is time for a new one, or a least a newer one.
But I figured it should last a little longer, maybe give me more time to shop for a good deal, plus Im sure it would bring more as a trade-in if I could drive it onto the lot.

Incidentally, I have been looking at Toyota Tacomas. i like the way they look, although they are a bit pricey.

Chevy Silverado is probably my second choice.

This is the only Dodge Ive ever owned, and even though it only had 37000 on it when I bought it, it has had some serious repair needs.
Transmission, water pump (third time now), fuel pump, radiator, starter, and the usual nickel and dime stuff like a new battery every 2-3 years, plugs, plug wires, etc.
However, it has been easy on tires, I get between 50 and 70 thousand on each set.
Im sure that has nothing to do with the vehicle though.
Seems like when it runs, it runs good, but when it fails, it usually costs me dearly.
And it has stranded me several times in the last 10 years.

Ive heard many stories about the longevity of Toyota, so I may go with it.

[ChadTower]

When I was shopping in the spring for a truck everyone told me the same thing about the Dodges:  They're great until about 40k.  That's when you start to have to repair them every few thousand miles and every time you take it into the shop it is at least $500 and often $1000.

It was the Civic I was going to trade in on a Tacoma... but decided I liked having no payment a little too much.

[HaRuMaN]

On your Dodge, is the radiator fan attached to the water pump, or do you have an electric fan?

If your fan is the old style (attached to the water pump) you may want to have the fan clutch checked out.  If it's off, it will wear out your water pumps MUCH quicker.

[DaOld Man]

It is attached to the pump. I think I will call the mechanic and tell him to check it.
Thanks.

[Hoopz]

When I was shopping in the spring for a truck everyone told me the same thing about the Dodges:  They're great until about 40k.  That's when you start to have to repair them every few thousand miles and every time you take it into the shop it is at least $500 and often $1000.

I had a 97 or 98 Dodge Ram.  Oil pan developed a hole at about 34k.  Tranny went at 38,000.  Truck went at 38,001.  Never again.

[TOK]

200,000 on a Dodge is a testament to DaOldMans tenderness on cars. Dodge builds the worlds worst OD automatic trannies, and I don't know anyone that ever had a Dodge last that wasn't a diesel. We have a 70 vehicle fleet and won't buy Dodges, just GMC/Chevy and Ford trucks. The Fords are more reliable, though I think the Chevys are more comfortable.

DaOldMan, I have a 99 4x4 Tacoma thats been a great truck. In almost 10 years, I've replaced tires, battery and front brake pads. The starter is acting up on it, which is one of the things Tacoma's are notorious for. I'd definitely buy another Tacoma.
I was in the market for a new truck in 04 when the current body style was released. The price on them was nuts and the dealer wouldn't budge, so I wound up buying a Nissan Titan crew cab. It has also been a good truck, but I can tell its not gonna last like the Tacoma.

Definitely a great time to be in the truck market because the only people buying them now are people that need them for work. Even though gas is well under 2 bucks a gallon here, I think this summer was enough to scare people away from pickups and large SUV's.

[danny_galaga]

Toyota is going to get increasingly desperate to move their trucks... I think you'll get a great deal if you can hold out a few more months.

Dodge, allegedly, is also having a real tough time in my area.  I'm hearing ~$16k for a brand new truck right now and a lot of my coworkers are getting itchy.

this is going to apply all makers in the next year or so. definitely make the old boy last til next year daoldman. should be some super deals out there. and if one of the 'big three' goes under, well, there'll be some absolute bargains...

[ChadTower]

this is going to apply all makers in the next year or so. definitely make the old boy last til next year daoldman. should be some super deals out there. and if one of the 'big three' goes under, well, there'll be some absolute bargains...

It's not going to happen.  The people in power now are beholden to the auto worker unions.  That's why the big three came to the gov't hands out the second the election was over. 

[DaOld Man]

Well, the mighty dodge is fixed.. for now.
Turns out it wasnt the water pump after all, but a hose going into the block above the water pump.
Mechanic said he had to remove alternator, AC compressor and i dont know what else to get to it.
Only charged me a 100 bucks to do it.
But now the bad news.
He said he noticed a rattling noise. Which I had been noticing too, but I thought it was a loose exhaust pipe.
He said exhaust pipe looks fine, the noise is coming from the transmissions torque converter.
So I need to get rid of this baby ASAP.
I may try to wait until after christmas, but it's got to go.
Overall, Im not happy with Dodge.
The paint started flaking off it after a had it a couple or three years. And theres another truck in town, same model and same color, and the paint is flaking off it too, so Im thinking a factory defect in the paint.

My last car was a 88 firebird, which I bought new.
The most major work on it was a radiator, and I fixed that myself.
It had 220000 miles on it when I bought my truck and gave the firebird to my son. I think he got another 20-30 thousand out of it before selling it for junk because the motor finally gave up the ghost.

[orion]

Toyota is going to get increasingly desperate to move their trucks... I think you'll get a great deal if you can hold out a few more months.

Dodge, allegedly, is also having a real tough time in my area.  I'm hearing ~$16k for a brand new truck right now and a lot of my coworkers are getting itchy.

I caught a bit of the NBC national news last night (or might have been the night before) and apparently some dealership somewhere in the country is offering a buy one get one free deal on trucks.

[ChadTower]

The paradox is that here they are advertising gigantic sales and value on your tradein... and then when you get there anyone without dead perfect credit and a 40% down payment gets declined financing.  They are desperate to sell trucks but only to people who are paying cash.

[orion]

Yea I have been toying with the notion about seeing if I could finance a car right now however I don't think anyone can finance a vehicle right now, and I enjoy not having payments on one of our cars.  It gets me to work, but its a two seater and by no means a family car.

[Mauzy]

Buy a Jeep! My 99 has 150K on it and runs like new. Most we've had to do to it was a muffler, a compressor fan (blew apart on highway, scared the crap outta me...), and turn signal  controller. (when the right signal was on both lights flashed  ) I guess it could use a rocker head tightening but thats it...

[SavannahLion]

The paradox is that here they are advertising gigantic sales and value on your tradein... and then when you get there anyone without dead perfect credit and a 40% down payment gets declined financing.  They are desperate to sell trucks but only to people who are paying cash.

That's going on everywhere, not just the auto dealers. Just went shopping for a big ticket item (big as in, the only other thing I would ever spend that kind of money on is something with an engine in it) and financing was no longer an option.  A year ago, these same ---uvulas--- practically tripped all over themselves to pay you to finance.

No matter, the financing rules were downright ---smurfing--- bizarre. It's about time they bring that ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- into line again.

[Mauzy]

We looked at Jeep's (Wranglers) and the gas mileage was awful, the reliability below average, and the cost $10K too expensive.

St. Louis was really, really tough on cars and I'd see at least 2 Mitsubishis and 1 Jeep (any model) a week dead on the side of the highway.

 

Real shame as they're fun and stylish cars.

You can find anything dead on the side of the road around here. Remember when a Chicago football player left a Ferrari or Lambo (some ungodly expensive big name sports car) dead on the side of the road?
I didn't realize Wranglers were that bad. I guess I've never looked into them that much. I must have gotten lucky with my Cherokee.

[daywane]

DaOldMans.
you live in summerset right?
what do you want for the truck?
would not be the first vehicle I bought from B.Y.O.A.C
bought a van a year or two ago.
I tinker with cars.  ( I own 6)
82 Toyota s/bed pick up (run great ) (use it to go to work in every day)
89 s10 blazer ( work fine , I need to replace vacuum lines)
88 Mazda RX7 ( I need to rebuild this one . Daughter over heated it ad froze it up, Rotary moter  )
80's something dodge E150 van ( I can not think of the year) Run fine , No heat
97 Chrysler concord ( new condition)
77 F150 ford pick up ( restored - MINT. I only drive this one to pull the boat)
bought this truck in AZ . no rust. got rid of the red paint and painted her white .

[Ed_McCarron]

I didn't realize Wranglers were that bad. I guess I've never looked into them that much. I must have gotten lucky with my Cherokee.

Depends on the vintage.  My '90 YJ ran like a champ.  Paid $12k for it,  replaced the clutch once, and still managed to sell it for $4k when it was almost 10 years old.

[Mauzy]

I didn't realize Wranglers were that bad. I guess I've never looked into them that much. I must have gotten lucky with my Cherokee.

Depends on the vintage.  My '90 YJ ran like a champ.  Paid $12k for it,  replaced the clutch once, and still managed to sell it for $4k when it was almost 10 years old.

There's the upside to YJ/CJ, and to a slightly lesser extent, XJ models. Even after 10, 15 years, theres always someone out there who will pay 4 grand to essentially buy the body and engine to turn it into a big ass off road vehicle.

Hell, I paid 4K for my Cherokee when it was about 9 years old...

[DaOld Man]

DaOldMans.
you live in summerset right?
what do you want for the truck?
would not be the first vehicle I bought from B.Y.O.A.C
bought a van a year or two ago.

PM sent

[Ummon]

I feel you on the lack of heat in the vehicle.  My car hasn't had any heat in like 100,000 miles.  The defroster sorta works but on the really cold mornings it only makes a difference to the windshield.

How can you not have any heat? Thermostats are pretty cheap and ordinarily not to much of a pain to replace.

[Ed_McCarron]

My car hasn't had any heat in like 100,000 miles.

Meh, a little cold on the ass never hurt anyone.

[ChadTower]

My car hasn't had any heat in like 100,000 miles.

Meh, a little cold on the ass never hurt anyone.

Consistency.  I dig it.

I don't think it's the thermostat.  Everything else works, including the defroster and A/C.  Either way it doesn't bug me much except for the really cold parts of winter.

[orion]

I feel you on the lack of heat in the vehicle.  My car hasn't had any heat in like 100,000 miles.  The defroster sorta works but on the really cold mornings it only makes a difference to the windshield.

How can you not have any heat? Thermostats are pretty cheap and ordinarily not to much of a pain to replace.

I had a Honda CRX that the heat went out on.  The valve way up in the dash that controlled the heat had broken. Every place I took the car to said that they had to take the dash completely out to fix it and every place was quoting me prices that were more than the value of the car. The only two practical options available to me were to either live without heat or to trade the car in... I traded it in for a used Saturn.

[ChadTower]

Yeah, the dealer wanted like $650, and the local guy said he'd charge by the hour as he went.  He's fair but I know how much labor is involved there. 

[HaRuMaN]

I took the dash out of my truck once to replace the heater core... not a fun job at all..

[daywane]

My car hasn't had any heat in like 100,000 miles.

Meh, a little cold on the ass never hurt anyone.

Consistency.  I dig it.

I don't think it's the thermostat.  Everything else works, including the defroster and A/C.  Either way it doesn't bug me much except for the really cold parts of winter.

you, my friend. have a vacume leak

[ChadTower]

you, my friend. have a vacume leak

Would that be the case if the heat still blows?  It never warms up but it does blow air just fine.

[daywane]

my s10 blazer is doing it now.
when you turn on heat, It works right?
just blow from defroster?
if this is so. yep you have a vacume leak under the hood.

[ChadTower]

my s10 blazer is doing it now.
when you turn on heat, It works right?
just blow from defroster?
if this is so. yep you have a vacume leak under the hood.

Not quite... air blows fine from heat vents.  It just never gets warm.  You have to use the defroster to get any warm air.

[daywane]

Well then,,, Vacuum line is not the case.
thermostat is working because you get heat from defrost
Radiator is fine because you get heat from defrost
same with heater core
so I would start with a switch from a junk yard.

[ChadTower]

thermostat is working because you get heat from defrost
Radiator is fine because you get heat from defrost

Plus the car wouldn't run if these things were bad.   

[daywane]

thermostat is working because you get heat from defrost
Radiator is fine because you get heat from defrost

Plus the car wouldn't run if these things were bad.   

wrong.
thermostat can get stuck open. Car will run fine. but never heat up water for heat.
you are right about  Radiator .

[DaOld Man]

This is why I always try to buy a vehicle with a temp gauge, not just a "Engine Hot" idiot light.
The gauge will tell you if you got a bad thermostat, motor wont ever get up to normal temp.

[orion]

This is why I always try to buy a vehicle with a temp gauge, not just a "Engine Hot" idiot light.
The gauge will tell you if you got a bad thermostat, motor wont ever get up to normal temp.

You don't see those as often as you used to.

[Ed_McCarron]

This is why I always try to buy a vehicle with a temp gauge, not just a "Engine Hot" idiot light.
The gauge will tell you if you got a bad thermostat, motor wont ever get up to normal temp.

You don't see those as often as you used to.

Idiots?